The Los Angeles Lakers are just one week away from kicking off their season against the Golden State Warriors, and man, the final piece of their starting five is still totally up in the air. The team hasn’t been rocking a fully healthy squad in their four preseason games, but you gotta admit, the results have been pretty impressive despite that. After the Lakers snagged Walker Kessler in a trade and then signed Quentin Grimes in free agency, it felt like those two, along with Austin Reaves and Luka Dončić, were locks. But who slots into that critical fifth spot? That talk has been non-stop, especially picking up serious steam through preseason.
The Big Question: Who Steps Up?
This offseason, the Lakers were all about getting younger, more athletic players. The goal was to build a squad capable of defending and shooting around their Big 3 of Luka, Austin, and Kessler. It’s pretty cool how the four guys battling for that fifth spot each bring something unique to the table to complement those core players. We’re talking about Matisse Thybulle, Ziaire Williams, Sandro Mamukelashvili, and Jake LaRavia, and honestly, they’ve all made a strong case to earn that starting nod.
Williams Leads The Pack
Based on how head coach JJ Redick has shuffled guys in and out all preseason, Ziaire Williams looks like the favorite right now. This guy brings length, defensive smarts, and real shooting potential, slotting perfectly into that prototypical starting power forward role for L.A. In his only preseason game, Williams exploded for 13 points, shooting a perfect 3-for-3 from deep. And man, his defensive activity just jumped off the screen. But don’t sleep on the others. Thybulle has been a rock-solid presence on defense for the Lakers, showcasing his point-of-attack and off-ball wizardry. In the three games he’s played, the Lakers’ defensive rating was a super stingy 97.0 when he was on the floor. Then there’s LaRavia, who’s showing off a brand new jump shot this season, and it’s looking fantastic! He’s currently hitting 53.8% from beyond the arc on 3.3 attempts per game. You couple that with his natural defensive instinct, and he’s got a seriously strong argument to start. Plus, he played all 82 games for Los Angeles last season, even starting in some of them.
So, with the Golden State Warriors coming to Crypto.Com Arena in just a week, every single rep in practice counts. Who Coach Redick ultimately rolls out as that fifth starter isn’t just a minor detail; it could absolutely set the tone for the entire season, especially with the clear goal of getting younger and more athletic. Get ready, because it’s almost go-time!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Silver Screen and Roll.
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